GamingBolt points the way to a reddit thread about a texture allegedly found within Counter-Strike: Global Offensive that's being interpreted as a Half-Life 3 clue, though Valve has been steadfastly denying that any sort of viral marketing or ARG is underway for a continuation of their shooter series. Thanks Ant via Digg.

Even if Valve had a particular release date in mind, what's the likelihood that they'd actually hit it, given their previous track record? They seem to be taking Trent Reznor's path, and over almost the same timeframe: less interested in the actual product, more interested in how the product is packaged, consumed, and sold. This isn't to say it's a bad thing, as we're going through massive upheaval in how every type of media and entertainment is distributed, and these experiments at the fringe are necessary. Digital music outsold physical last year, and boxed PC games are becoming dinosaurs. But I'd still love to hear a new NIN album that affects me as much as The Downward Spiral, and I'd love to play a Valve shooter with the solid, intelligent, seamlessly-integrated characters from, and gameplay innovations of, Half-Life 2.